Re: Mine Safety Subordinated to Mining Company Interests

John Kepler wrote:

It only takes one serious mine incident to cause serious financial loss for mining companies, yet companies like this one continue to receive violation after violation with few if any repercussions. The only way something like a rebreather would ever be used is if it is mandated by MSHA, and they've had their teeth cropped by the Bush administration, who appointed mining insiders to the regulatory agency. It's like the cops and the robbers joining forces against the robbers' victims.


You ALL win the "Emily Latilla" Award for the month, and collectively need to get out a little more! Oxygen-supplied re-breathing self-rescue apparatus has been FEDERALLY MANDATED in US coal mines for over 20 YEARS! So please quit getting your shorts in a bunch!

Interesting, since what I was referring to was first prototyped in 1987, and first manufactured commercially in the 1990s. These are chemical 'scrubber' rebreathers used by cave divers and originally engineered by Bill Stone. If he could extend his 30 minute SCUBA tanks to last 24 hours in 1987 (and they are now several generations of improved and simplified rebreathers along now), the 36 hour limit you claim seems a bit short at 1 ATM. By changing chemical packs this time can be extended even further. This technology is based only on gas carried underwater...if this technology could be adapted to utilize low O2 in external air, further time could be bought as well. Similar SCBA units are used in exploring high hydrogen sulfide caves such as Cueva Villa Luz in Mexico.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_7_21/ai_63035791


We're not the ones with our underwear tied up, Mr. Kepler. I am very skeptical that MSHA has the sort of technology I am referring to.

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